Canford School: Comprehensive 13+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School: Canford School
• Location: Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3AD
• Type: Independent Co-educational Boarding School
• Age Range: 13-18 years
• Students: Over 650
• Entry Point: 13+ (Year 9)
• Assessment: ISEB Common Pre-Test + School Pre-Assessment
• Registration Deadline: End of July, Year 5
• Contact: admissions@canford.com

About Canford School

Established in 1923 on a magnificent 250-acre campus in Dorset, Canford School has earned recognition as one of the leading co-educational boarding schools in the South West. The school's philosophy centres on holistic education, encouraging students to discover and develop their individual talents whilst maintaining exceptional academic standards.

Canford's academic excellence is reflected in its outstanding university destinations, with 44 Oxbridge offers secured over the past five years. The school's comprehensive approach extends beyond academics, offering over 50 co-curricular activities that allow students to explore diverse interests and develop leadership skills.

The school's facilities are exceptional, featuring state-of-the-art science laboratories, a professional theatre, extensive sports fields, and modern boarding houses that create a supportive community environment. Canford's commitment to personalised education ensures each student receives individual attention whilst benefiting from the opportunities that only a leading independent school can provide.

Fees and key dates for 2026/27

Canford School publishes day fees of £14,315 (incl. VAT) per term for 2026/27, with boarding at £19,073 (incl. VAT) per term, and the figures above come from the school's own fees page as checked in September 2026. Registration for the next 13+ round: End of July, Year 5 (Round 1); end of July, Year 6 (Round 2); 31 October, Year 8 (Round 3); 1 December, Year 8 (scholarships). Assessment dates: Round 1: January/February of Year 6 (for those registering by end of July Year 5); Round 2: January/February of Year 7 (registration by end of July Year 6); Round 3: Year 8 entrance tests for those registering by 31 October of Year 8; scholarship assessments January/February Year 8. Not specified on the school's own admissions pages, only "assessment days" are referenced, with detail deferred to admissions@canford.com. Fees and dates change each year, so the school's website remains the reference for the current round.

The 13+ Assessment Process

Canford School operates a 13+ entry system rather than traditional 11+ admissions, with entry into Year 9. The assessment process is designed to identify students who will thrive in Canford's academic and co-curricular environment.

ISEB Common Pre-Test

The foundation of Canford's selection process is the ISEB Common Pre-Test, taken by the end of November in Year 6 or Year 7:

• Format: Online adaptive test with multiple-choice questions
• Mathematics: Covers arithmetic through to multi-step problem solving based on Year 5 curriculum
• English: Reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• Adaptive Nature: Questions adjust to student ability, providing accurate assessment

Canford Pre-Assessment Day

Students who perform well in the ISEB test are invited to the school's Pre-Assessment Day during the Spring term:

• Informal interviews with teaching staff
• Group activities designed to assess collaboration and communication skills
• Opportunity for students to experience the school environment
• Assessment of potential beyond academic ability alone

How to Apply

The application process for Canford School follows a structured timeline designed to ensure thorough assessment whilst allowing families adequate preparation time:

Year 5 (Two Years Before Entry)

• Spring/Autumn: Attend an Open Morning to experience the school firsthand
• By End of July: Register your child to participate in the Explore Day

Year 6

• September: Attend the Explore Day (non-assessed familiarisation event)
• By End of November: Complete the ISEB Common Pre-Test

Year 7 (Entry Year)

• Spring Term: Pre-Assessment Day for successful ISEB candidates
• Spring Term: Offers of places communicated to families

Early registration is essential, as places are highly sought after and the school maintains selective admission standards. The Explore Day provides valuable insight into school life and helps families understand whether Canford aligns with their child's interests and aspirations.

Preparing for the Canford School 13+ with Taylor Tuition

The Canford School 13+ rewards steady preparation over a year or so, with the last term given to timed practice and interview confidence. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors match the programme to the school's assessment format and to where the child is starting from.

Because the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, and more than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status, families get a tutor who understands what the assessors are looking for. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families in the South and South West and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 13+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 13+ Common Entrance tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.